Slain guitarist, guard praised by brother

Posted: Saturday, December 11, 2004

Bobby Ross Jr.The Associated Press

DALLAS - Slain heavy metal guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott had a heart "twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!"

With a flurry of exclamation points, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott paid homage to his brother and Damageplan bandmate Friday, trying to put into words the enormity of what he called "our immeasurable loss."

"With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, DIME will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!!," Vinnie Abbott said in a written statement.

"He gave it all everyday to each and every one of us and our lives have forever been hollowed without him. ... Thanks to all of you for reaching out to us in this time of our immeasurable loss. REST IN PEACE BROTHER DIME!!!!!!"

Funeral arrangements were pending Friday for Darrell Abbott, whose house in Dalworthington Gardens between Dallas and Fort Worth has been turned into a makeshift memorial with flower bouquets, a black concert T-shirt, a tumbler glass of his signature drink, Crown Royal, letters and a framed piece of paper reading, "The world has lost a music legend, but Texas has lost a friend."

Vinnie Abbott and the rest of Damageplan also praised Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, a bodyguard in the band who was one of the four people killed by a gunman when the band was attacked Wednesday night at an Ohio nightclub.

Thompson, of Dallas, was "not just a true part of the Damageplan family, but part of the whole Dallas music scene," the statement said.